How fast things can change in professional wrestling in this social media world. On the phone from Alberta, Vance Nevada was under the impression that he was the new 
NWA World champion, and shared his overwhelming joy. Yet before this story is written, the NWA Board of Directors has ruled that Adam Pearce is still the champ.
Friday night in Red Deer, Alberta, Pearce put the World title on the line against “Mr. Beefy Goodness” Vance Nevada, a veteran of the Canadian wrestling scene, in a bout promoted by the CNWA.
“Quite honestly, I’m still in shock. It is really overwhelming. First of all, the experience, the match, and just the overwhelming support over the last 24 hours. My phone and email have been going non-stop,” Nevada told SLAM! Wrestling.
The web has been full of responses to his title win, including photos of Nevada with the title on Facebook.
He addressed his opponent, with great praise.
“Adam Pearce is probably one of the most underrated wrestlers in our industry. So crisp, so smooth. Really a wrestler’s wrestler. Fantastic to even have that opportunity. You really don’t appreciate a great wrestler until you’re in the ring with one, it’s a whole different ballgame. You can watch a good match, but when you’re in there with a guy who is really at the peak of his game, it is really fantastic,” said Nevada.
Nevada was aware that the title change was under review
“It is still under review, as far as I know. I expect to hear word later today when we get to Lloydminister. For now, I’m going to enjoy the moment,” he said.
The NWA Board of Directors issued this decision Saturday afternoon: “Due to the unfortunate but blatant and wholly egregious rules violations in last night’s bout, we have no choice but to rule that Vance Nevada is hereby disqualified from the contest. Therefore, Adam Pearce is declared the winner of the contest, and as a result he retains the championship.”
According to the NWA, Pearce had particularly protested “referee incompetence.”
“It took 12 hours, but justice is served. SUCCESS in Red Deer. Massive Damage will pay tonight in Lloydminster, Alberta,” Pearce wrote on his Facebook page.
Nevada, originally from Winnipeg, was happy he got to share the fleeting moment with many friends in Red Deer, his home for the last number of years.
“There’s a few people that say, ‘Yeah, I need to get out to a match one time.’ As independent guys, we’re used to hearing that all the time. ‘Yeah, yeah, for sure we’ll get tickets’ — and then you don’t see them at the matches,” he explained. “Last night, for whatever reason, a lot of people that are near and dear to me were in the crowd and got to experience that with me.”
Regardless, Nevada is pleased with the attention that his home promotion got.
“I’m not only excited about this for myself, but I think this will put a spotlight on Canadian wrestling, specifically the CNWA,” he said. “People don’t pay attention to what’s going on in Canada and today, right now, they are. Everyone now, especially in the United States, is very curious about what is going on in Alberta right now.”
No doubt, the storylines will continue as Pearce, the NWA World champ since July 2011, makes appearances tonight in Lloydminister, Alberta (versus Massive Damage), and Sunday in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan (versus Mark Posey).
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Vance Nevada
This November, Kelowna is facing several local elections, but Professional Wrestling is no stranger to its own brand of backstage politics. Big West Wrestling’s inaugural event on Remembrance Day, at the Rutland Centennial Hall, is currently bogged down in tape as red as a field of poppies: all because of the NWA Canadian Title. Shortly after it was announced online (bigwestwrestling.com) that reigning Canadian Champion, Tony Baroni, would be defending his title against Adam Ryder in the main event on November 11, Baroni’s representatives insisted that the title match would not be happening. Citing National Wrestling Alliance guidelines, Big West Wrestling was told that since they are not a member of the NWA blanket organization, Big West couldn’t possibly host an NWA Title match.
Despite NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Adam Pearce, currently defending the organization’s most prominent title around the globe (for both NWA and non-NWA wrestling promotions), officials for NWA Canada were quick to back the claims of their brash and outspoken young champion. While it goes without saying that the NWA Canadian Title has already been defended in Kelowna back in February (at another non-NWA event), it should also be noted that since Baroni’s last title defense was October 28 in Surrey, the Champion has the customary 30-day window before being required to defend his title again.
Big West Wrestling was quick to respond, announcing that Vance Nevada will replace Baroni in the Main Event of the November 11 “It’s All About Respect” card in Rutland. A former NWA Canadian Champion himself, Nevada is ironically set to battle Adam Pearce for the NWA World Heavyweight Title on November 26 in Red Deer, Alberta at–you guessed it–a non-NWA event. Also a former two-time ASW Trans-Canada Champion and author of the best-selling Wrestling In The Canadian West, Nevada was dedicated to returning national touring prestige to the NWA Canadian Title when he was champion for the latter half of 2006; after being defended from B.C. to the Maritimes during that span, the NWA Canadian Title has since become exclusive to 3-4 Lower Mainland towns during the past five years.
Ryder and Nevada are no strangers to each other, having battled beside and against each other all across Canada the past several years. There is no doubt this match on November 11 will be nothing short of a thrilling and intense showdown. And while the Kelowna fans and “Mr. Beefy Goodness” don’t necessarily see eye-to-eye, the town has hosted several of the 14-year wrestling veteran’s recent career milestones: in 2009 Nevada wrestled his 1200th career match at the Rutland Centennial Hall, and last month he also wrestled the 1400th match of his career here.
Adam Ryder
Baroni is still expected to see action on November 11 at the Rutland Centennial Hall; but his opponent will not be named until showtime. As one Big West Wrestling official stated, “Big West is striving to provide new opportunities for wrestlers throughout B.C., Alberta, Washington State, and beyond: new audiences, new opponents, new experiences. Regardless of his stance on defending the NWA Canadian Title, Tony Baroni will be getting the full Kelowna experience on Remembrance Day.”
Also set to see action is The Mauler, who is returning to active competition after a year’s hiatus from the squared circle. The fearsome and face-painted Mauler always gets a great reaction when he’s in Rutland. Kelowna’s Marty (Mad Dog) Sugar will be a gameday decision to wrestle, after suffering facial injuries on October 14 in Rutland at the hands of KC Andrews. Meanwhile, Andrews is appealing a “lifetime ban” by the Rutland Park Society, after the incident on October 14 that saw Andrews inexplicably throw bleach in Sugar’s face during their hotly-contested Shock-Collar Match. Also on hand will be a quartet of female competitors: Raven Lake, Nicole Matthews, KC Spinelli and rookie Sammi (Bambi) Hall.
More matches and information will be made available, as we get closer to showtime. Big West will be providing free admission to all active and retired military personnel on November 11, in honour of Remembrance Day. General Admission tickets are $10.00, and only $5.00 for children 13 and under; doors will open at 7:30pm with the show itself starting promptly at 8:00pm. Advance tickets are available at Maggie’s Cafe, Valley Pawnbrokers, Fernando’s Taqueria, Sturgeon Hall, Players Choice Sportscards & Collectibles, and the Rutland Flea Market. All military personal are kindly asked to pick up their free tickets at the Rutland Centennial Hall, when the doors open the night of the show.
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Watch the match in its entirety on our Videos page.
Running Time is 24:46
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